POS1566-PARE BEYOND MEDICATION – SELF MANAGEMENT AS A COMPLEMENTARY APPROACH FOR TREATING RMDS
Authors: S. David
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Upon diagnosis Rheumatoid Patients declare that the feeling that prevails is fear. Fear over the unknown over their health condition, their professional future, and their personal and social life. The person experiences a vicious cycle. Loss of control leads to anxiety which triggers pain which enhances psychological distress, thus the person feels completely helpless. Objectives The Self-Management education workshop is offered as a complementary aid, next to the arranged medical plan and the medications prescribed. The primary goal of the Workshop is for patients to accept their new reality which is, living with RMD. Further on, grounds for change are set. Patients within the program are taught in great detail how to engage new healthy, daily activities, such as appropriate exercise, appropriate use of medications, healthier nutrition, communicating effectively their fatigue, anxiety and psychological distress to family and friends. Patients are also taught, how to communicate to health professionals their condition, seek for information so as to evaluate new treatments, and demand the right for shared decision over their treatment. Moreover they receive information about the Cyprus League of people with Rheumatism, the social and psychological help provided, practicalities that concerns them, availability of Doctors, and new medications. Information, provides a strong Know-how, to deal with everyday problems. Such achievement enhances the confidence that a new well-being could be within the persons reach. Methods Participants meet for two hours once a week, for five weeks. Two trained leaders conduct the workshop, one being a health professional and one patient. Participants are to the maximum 15. Major rules of a therapeutic group apply, such as empathy, confidentiality, respect in every sharing, time keeping, simple language. All activities are Interactive. Discussions, questions and answers, brain storming, action-planning exercises and feedback, role playing, problem-solving techniques, and decision making. Moreover, symptom management activities are included, such as exercise, relaxation, communication, healthy eating, medication management, and managing sleep and fatigue. During the workshop, participants experience rapport, and trust thus they are motivated to manage the challenges associated with their condition. Results Participants demonstrated significant improvements in exercise, ability to do social and household activities, less depression, less fear and frustration about their health, reduction in symptoms like pain, improve mobility, increase energy, and boost confidence in their ability to manage their condition. Results of every workshop are scientifically documented. Conclusion Self-Management workshops are often described by new coming participants as “render of last hope”. The structure and the facilitators create a safe environment for the patient to release the pain, seek knowledge, express the despair, set all the nightmares free. Acceptance, Respect, Rapport, Trust, knowledge aid the participants to experience the rebirth of hope. Self-Management workshops, are designed to complement clinical treatment and when delivered with empathy, lead RMD patients to physical and psychological well-being. References [1]Private practice, Self-Management education workshops at the Cyprus League of people with Rheumatism. Disclosure of Interests None declared